Through the 1960s and 1970s the NASCAR Grand National Series began focusing on bigger, faster, and longer tracks.

Over time, Enoch Staley and Jack Combs attempted to keep the facility modern and on pace with the growth of the sport.

In the Gwyn Staley 160 of 1960, Junior Johnson beat 21 other drivers for the pole position with a lap speed of 83.860 mph.

Rex White posted the fastest qualifying lap and dethroned Lee Petty from his three-race winning streak at North Wilkesboro.

1960 Grand National Champion Rex White, who started on the outside pole, led the remaining 221 laps and won the race.

Tommy Irwin started the race in sixth position and finished the Gwyn Staley 400 two laps behind White.

In the 1963 Wilkes 400, Fred Lorenzen captured his third straight pole at the track by breaking his own record with a lap time of 23.30 seconds / 96.566 mph.

Panch did not start the 1963 season until halfway through because he had nearly lost his life in a crash while testing a Maserati at Daytona that February.

Holman-Moody took the next three spots in the final rundown, with Lorenzen second, Nelson Stacy third, and Fireball Roberts fourth.

The track was repaved just prior to the Gwyn Staley 400 in 1964, and the resulting lack of traction wreaked havoc.

[2] Junior Johnson defeated Cale Yarborough by two laps in order to clinch his final victory ever in the NASCAR Cup Series.

[3] John Ervin, Herb Nab and Dale Inman where the three most notable crew chiefs to participate in this event.